According to IDC, rising component costs and retail prices continue to weigh on the broader Chinese smartphone market. Apple's share grew to 17.8% in Q3 2026, up from 15.8% a year ago, even as its own shipments dropped 4.3% year over year and 15.1% from the previous quarter.
Huawei was the standout performer, posting a 17.3% year-over-year increase in shipments and capturing 21.1% of the market, up from 15.2% a year earlier. However, its shipments still fell 17.6% from the second quarter.
Other brands showed mixed results. Lenovo was the only other brand in the top 10 to record year-over-year growth, at 1.1%. On a quarter-over-quarter basis, Lenovo, Honor, and Samsung all saw increases, with Samsung posting a 106.5% jump. Wiko recorded the largest year-over-year decline among the top 10.
The overall market contracted 15.4% year over year, reflecting ongoing headwinds from cost pressures and higher retail prices. Apple lost volume but less than most rivals, allowing it to gain market share.